Ex-Schools Chief to Sue W.Va. Board

West Virginia's former schools superintendent, Jorea Marple, plans to sue the state board of education for what her lawyers are calling her illegal dismissal, and they will ask for "serious" damages, the attorneys said last week.

The lawyers representing the longtime educator said in a letter to the board that they would seek for Ms. Marple to be reinstated to her job with back pay, as well as damages for what they describe as harm to her reputation. The board dismissed her Nov. 15, citing lagging student performance and a desire to "head in a new direction with new leadership."

A petition filed with the state supreme court in November alleges that the board violated West Virginia's open-meetings law when it fired Ms. Marple.

The board has since hired James Phares for the job, a former district superintendent.

Two board members, Priscilla Haden and Jenny Phillips, voted against Ms. Marple's firing and resigned late last month over her dismissal and how it was handled.

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